Indian media’s statements are harmful to healthy relations: Bangladesh’s foreign affairs adviser

Last Updated on December 2, 2024 5:19 am

Bangladesh’s foreign affairs adviser Md. Towhid Hossain has said that India needs to address Bangladesh’s long-standing concerns to improve bilateral relations between Dhaka and New Delhi.

He was speaking at a roundtable discussion titled ‘Bangladesh-India Relations: Expectations, Obstacles and Future’.

Towhid said, ‘The previous (deposed) government of Bangladesh had addressed India’s concerns. But India has not addressed Bangladesh’s concerns.’

The event was organised by the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) and the Department of Political Science and Sociology (PSS) of North South University at their campus in the capital on Saturday.

Towhid said, ‘There has been no progress on important issues between Bangladesh and India like the Teesta water sharing agreement or border killings.’

Stating that India must take responsibility for these issues, the Foreign Affairs Advisor said, ‘If there is no war, such incidents do not happen on the border of another country.’
Regarding the killing on the border, he said, ‘If someone has committed a crime, then he should be tried in court. He should not be killed.’

Towhid also expressed concern about the aggressive media campaign in India against Bangladesh, especially since August 5, saying, ‘Such statements are harmful to building healthy relations between the two countries.’

The Advisor further said, ‘In such a complex relationship, especially regarding the statements of our Foreign Ministry, our (Bangladesh) media plays an important role in fact-checking and providing accurate coverage.’

Despite the current diplomatic challenges, the Advisor accepted the reality in the context of the changed situation after August 5 and expressed optimism about the future of Bangladesh-India relations.

He said, ‘After August 5, there has been a change in the relations between the two countries. This is the reality.’

The foreign affairs advisor said, ‘Dhaka wants to remain optimistic that we will be able to establish a good relationship with India by ensuring that bilateral interests are protected.’

Towhid stressed the importance of national consensus in foreign policy.

He said, ‘Bangladesh has not been able to fully utilize its potential due to political divisions.’

At the same time, the advisor also highlighted the need to increase the country’s national capacity, especially through human resource development.

He said, ‘Bangladeshi workers in the Middle East earn significantly less than Indian workers in other countries. This happens due to lack of skills in work and lack of proficiency in English.’

At the roundtable meeting, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Vice Chairman Dr. SM Asaduzzaman Ripon, AB Party Joint Member Secretary Asaduzzaman Fuad, former diplomat Shakib Ali, former Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General (Retd.) Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman and Manarat International University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Abdur Rob and other prominent panelists were present.

The roundtable discussion was chaired by North South University Vice-Chancellor Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury and moderated by Associate Professor Dr. M Jasim Uddin, Department of Political Science and Sociology.